Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970s vs Octomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970sOctomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
DistilleryJohnnie WalkerBruichladdich
RegionOther ScotchIslay
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlendedSingle Malt
ABV40%48.4%
AgeNAS8 yr
Price£199£197.65
Rating5.00/55.00/5

Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970s

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner70/100
Value25/100

Octomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner45/100
Value25/100

Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970s

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Octomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Octomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is better value at £198 vs £199.

For beginners: Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970s is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970s

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£199 vs £197.65)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Octomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +More affordable (£197.65 vs £199)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Johnnie?

Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970s suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Other Scotch character.

Who should buy Octomore?

Octomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Islay character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

ToastedMalt Extract

Only Johnnie Walker Black Label Extra Special - 1970s

VanillaHoney

Only Octomore 8 Year Old 2011 (cask 13327) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SmokeyOily

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